Festival Box
Litha Sabbat
What is Litha? The Magic of the Summer Solstice
Honouring the height of light, life, and leafy green abundance
As the Wheel of the Year turns once more, we arrive at one of the most radiant and joy-filled sabbats of all — Litha, also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice.
This sabbat marks the longest day and shortest night of the year, when the sun reaches its peak power and the natural world is bursting with life. It’s a celebration of light, abundance, sensuality, creativity, and the full bloom of summer magic.
The Fire Festival of the Sun
Litha falls around June 20–23 in the Northern Hemisphere (it varies slightly each year), and has been celebrated in many forms across cultures for centuries. From ancient Celtic bonfires to Scandinavian maypole dances and Slavic sun rituals, Midsummer has long been a time to honour the sun, the earth’s bounty, and the mysteries of light and dark.
In the Wheel of the Year, Litha is the polar opposite of Yule (Winter Solstice). Where Yule is the rebirth of the sun, Litha is its zenith — full power, full presence.
And then… the shift. Because from this point on, the days begin to grow shorter again. Litha reminds us to celebrate the light while it's here, to drink in the golden glow, and to prepare, ever so gently, for the slow return of the dark.
The Energies of Litha
Litha is fiery, fertile, wild, and joyous. It’s a celebration of:
- Nature is overflowing. Herbs are thriving. Fruit is ripening. Bees are buzzing. Life is rich and full.
- The sun fills us with energy, passion, and strength. We are reminded of our own power to shine.
- Litha has long been associated with romance, desire, and sacred union. Think flower crowns and golden skin.
- Like all sabbats, Litha carries a deeper current. The turning point. The reminder that nothing lasts forever, and beauty lies in the present moment.
Ways to Celebrate Litha
You don’t need a bonfire in a meadow (though that would be amazing). Litha can be celebrated in small, meaningful ways that honour your own rhythm. Here are a few ideas:
Make a flower crown or gather wild herbs like St. John’s Wort, mugwort, and vervain
Light a candle or fire to honour the sun’s power
Feast on seasonal foods like strawberries, honey, fresh greens, and sun tea
Create a solar altar with golds, oranges, and yellows
Charge your tools or crystals in the midday sun
Write down your intentions while your energy is high — what do you want to grow, now?
Litha in Modern Magic
Litha is a beautiful time to connect with solar deities (like Lugh, Apollo, Amaterasu, or Ra), to honour the divine masculine in all forms, and to celebrate the sacred dance of opposites — sun and moon, light and dark, growth and rest.
It’s also a potent moment to reflect on what’s come to fruition in your life — and to offer gratitude. What seeds you planted in spring are now in bloom? What are you proud of? What lights you up?
Litha is a powerful time for spells of passion, abundance, creativity, and courage. A Mystery Sabbat Bag might just include the charm, oil, or talisman you didn’t know you needed — but that’s exactly right for your next working.
It’s not just a bundle of goodies. It’s a toolkit for transformation.
